The Night of the Scissors

About

The Night of the Scissors is a single player survival action adventure game with horror and violence themes. It was developed by selewi and was released on May 13, 2022. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

In "The Night of the Scissors," players must navigate a dark, mysterious world as a pair of sentient scissors, using their cutting abilities to solve puzzles and evade dangerous enemies. The game features a unique art style and atmospheric soundtrack, immersing players in a surreal and unsettling experience. With challenging gameplay and unexpected twists, "The Night of the Scissors" offers a fresh take on the horror genre.

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Single-Player

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 424 reviews

atmosphere26 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game effectively captures the atmosphere of classic survival horror games with its PS1-style graphics and sound design.
It provides a tense and engaging experience, with moments of genuine fear and excitement as players try to evade the killer.
The game is short but sweet, making it a perfect quick horror experience for fans of the genre.

The game is extremely short, often completed in under 30 minutes, which may leave players wanting more content.
The controls can be clunky and difficult to manage, which can detract from the overall experience.
There is little replay value, as the game lacks collectibles and a deeper story, making it feel somewhat hollow after the first playthrough.

atmosphere
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
44%
6%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and creepy qualities, effectively utilizing sound cues and minimal music to enhance tension. Players appreciate the retro aesthetic and well-designed environments, particularly the abandoned post office setting, which contributes to a strong sense of dread. Overall, the atmosphere is considered the standout feature, making it a compelling experience for fans of indie horror.
- “With its immersive atmosphere, this indie horror gem proves to be a standout in the genre.”
- “The game nailed the atmosphere with the abandoned post office, VHS filters, and the soft snipping of the scissors when the killer's near.”
- “What I like about this game's atmosphere is honestly the fact that there is no jump scare music (for the most part), no real loud musical cue to detect the killer around your area other than the static getting hazier, footsteps, and the snips of the scissors themselves.”
- “There's not much in the way of actual music, which to me enhances the atmosphere other than maybe a stinger or two, and walking through this abandoned post office is creepy as hell.”
- “My only criticism in terms of atmosphere would be a lack of soundtrack.”
- “The reason I’m willing to be so forgiving is because, clearly, the primary focus of this game is the atmosphere.”
graphics
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
67%
8%
The graphics of the game are celebrated for their nostalgic PS1 and VHS aesthetic, effectively creating a haunting atmosphere that enhances the horror experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail in both visuals and sound design, which evoke a sense of nostalgia for classic horror games while maintaining a campy charm. Overall, the retro graphics are seen as a strong point, appealing to fans of old-school gaming and slasher films.
- “The attention to detail in both the visuals and sound design creates a truly terrifying environment that will haunt your dreams long after you've finished playing.”
- “Playstation 1 era graphics, an eerie, lonely setting and the clever use of scarce, but impactful sounds makes for an awesome horror experience.”
- “The night of the scissors is a great & short throwback to the classic Silent Hill/PS1 aesthetic games.”
- “Low quality graphics?”
- “I'll play a dog food bag stacking simulator with these graphics.”
- “But retro horror games didn’t have the luxury of convincing, eye-popping visuals or other resources that are standard in the gaming industry today, just as slasher films didn’t get the a-list actors or the best writers.”
gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
82%
8%
The gameplay is characterized as a short but engaging survival horror experience, featuring stealth mechanics and a tense atmosphere that enhances the sense of dread. While it lacks traditional inventory and save systems, the forgiving death mechanic allows players to reload easily, offsetting some frustrations. Overall, the game offers a variety of gameplay elements, though it is noted for its brevity and simplicity.
- “This is short but still has some variety to its gameplay.”
- “It was short but that doesn’t take away from the great gameplay of stealth and panic.”
- “Tense and creepy, the short gameplay accounts for the low price, but the game itself is pretty good.”
- “The gameplay is basically the usual survival horror affair, and truth be told this game literally isn't that long.”
- “This brings me to my next point: there's no inventory or save system which means there's no item management or saving as a mechanic, two of the pillars of classic survival horror.”
- “Great atmosphere, interesting gameplay, horrible execution overall.”
story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
70%
10%
The game's story is minimal and often described as lacking depth, revolving around two burglars in an abandoned post office and a serial killer with little backstory. While some players appreciate the clever plot twist and find the narrative quirky and atmospheric, many agree that it serves more as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a central focus. Overall, the story is seen as a light, nostalgic experience that complements the game's short runtime without overstaying its welcome.
- “On the positive side, it's well done and the plot twist was clever.”
- “It had a fun and quirky little story to unfold, in a fast-paced hide or die gameplay.”
- “Feels like a campfire story or urban legend brought to life and doesn't overstay its welcome.”
- “And with all of these frustrations, and the lack of story, I still enjoy this game.”
- “The story is a small one; it revolves around two burglars named Kevin and Adam who break into an abandoned post office so they can rob the place in order to score money for drugs or something along those lines.”
- “Storywise it was mediocre, but that didn't make me lose my interest in the game as it was very atmospheric.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
77%
10%
The game's music is minimal, with most sound coming from environmental effects like footsteps and the sound of scissors, which some players found lacking in intensity. While the absence of a traditional soundtrack enhances the atmosphere of dread and suspense, many reviewers noted that the only significant music occurs during the credits, which features a standout song that received positive remarks. Overall, the sparse use of music contributes to the game's eerie ambiance, though some players felt it could benefit from a more robust soundtrack.
- “There's not much in the way of actual music, which to me enhances the atmosphere other than maybe a stinger or two, and walking through this abandoned post office is creepy as hell.”
- “The credit song by 'skulptur' is a bop!!!”
- “And there’s clearly musical talent there because that song in the credits absolutely slapped, as the kids say.”
- “It only felt way too quiet; I don’t necessarily need music in the background, but there wasn’t any sound at all aside from footsteps and being chased. There is also one achievement that must be gotten within the week of Halloween.”
- “My only criticism in terms of atmosphere would be a lack of soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack also packed up and left the area ages ago.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of campy elements, such as tank controls and PS1-era graphics, alongside absurd scenarios like a bagged murderer and comically awkward character movements. While moments of tension, like the Scissor Man's approach, can be frightening, they often transition into humor, creating a unique and entertaining experience. Overall, the game's quirky situations and exaggerated mechanics contribute to its comedic charm.
- “The tank controls, the PS1-era graphics, the ridiculous bagged murderer... should all lead to a campy, funny adventure.”
- “Hilariously putting a log of all things underneath the shutter, you go inside and attempt to rob the place when the shutters close behind you and you're trapped.”
- “Controlling the character was kinda weird, but I actually found it funny the way he moves.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is criticized for its minimal replayability, with most players completing it in about 15 to 40 minutes and finding little incentive to return, aside from some achievement hunting. Many reviewers suggest that there are longer and more engaging indie horror games available for a similar price.
- “However, you can fly through this in 15 minutes and after that there is no replay value whatsoever... (save for some Halloween exclusive achievements...) and for the price you pay, there are far longer indie horror games out there that are of a good standard.”
- “Note there is zero replayability and the game is only ~40 minutes.”
- “Quite short with little replay value (unless achievement hunting).”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a highly emotional experience, expressing intense feelings such as joy, frustration, and triumph throughout their gameplay. The game's ability to evoke such strong reactions highlights its impactful storytelling and engaging mechanics.
- “I screamed, I cried, I got furious, and I won!”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players consistently express that the grinding required in the game is excessively time-consuming, often likening it to needing a second life to manage the demands.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its stability, with users highlighting that it is free of glitches and bugs, contributing to a smooth gameplay experience. Overall, it receives a recommendation for its reliable performance.
- “I would give it a recommendation, just for nailing the style so well and being glitch and bug free!”

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2h Median play time

2h Average play time

2-2h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Night of the Scissors is a survival action adventure game with horror and violence themes.

The Night of the Scissors is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, Linux and others.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing The Night of the Scissors.

The Night of the Scissors was released on May 13, 2022.

The Night of the Scissors was developed by selewi.

The Night of the Scissors has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its atmosphere but disliked it for its replayability.

The Night of the Scissors is a single player game.

Similar games include Cannibal Abduction, Murder House, Late Homework | 遅れた宿題, Bloodwash, Crow Country and others.

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